Hunt is on for 10,000 prayers
Grandparents all over Ireland have been asked to put pen to paper and compile a whopping 5,000 prayers in honour of their grandchildren.
An appeal has been sent out to children to writer a prayer in honour of their grandcildren as part of a unique event for grandparents, and the organisers hope to reach a target of 5,000 prayers.
The second-ever National Grandparents Pilgrimage will see families from all over the country converge on Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo, on Sunday, September 14th.
“There has already been a huge response to the prayer appeal and the quality of the work is breath-taking. We want to get to get to 5,000 prayers, and already we are on course,” said Catherine Wiley, the Co. Mayo woman behind the National Grandparents Pilgrimage.
“Anyone who thinks the faith is not alive and thriving in Ireland ought to read the prayers written by grandparents all over the country.”
The pilgrimage has been bombarded with interest from all over the country and has caught the attention of Pope Benedict XVI who has imparted his Apostolic Blessing and promised to pray for Irish grandparents.
“Grandmothers and grandfathers play a very important role in so many families. In many cases, they hold the family together,” added Catherine.
“Many grandparents today are struggling with the effects of divorced, separated, second union, or single parent families on their children and their children’s children. I have ten grandchildren and we know the special relationship that exists between grandparents and grandchildren.”
Further details are available on www.nationalgrandparentspilgrimage.com.